Page 18 of The Salted Sceptre
Fortunately I didn’t have to wait long for reassurance because I spotted him as soon as we drew close to the front of his ancestral home. He was chatting casually to Duchess. The taxi driver grunted and parked as far away as possible; he’d clearlyseen enough of Duchess already and had no desire to get close to her.
I thanked him and tried to give him a tip, but he declined so forcefully that I guessed Athair had ordered him to refuse my money – and an order from Athair wouldn’t be pleasant. I gave up and climbed out of the taxi. The driver took off with such speed that he almost collided with Slim and Miriam who were right behind us.
I watched them for a few seconds until I was sure that Athair had kept his word and left them in peace, then I spun towards Hugo. It had only been a few hours but, damn, I was beyond glad to see him.
I strode up, several burning questions on my lips. ‘You’re ba?—’
Hugo didn’t let me finish my sentence before his mouth descended on mine, stifling my words. I felt a flicker of annoyance at being prevented from talking but that was quickly superseded by desire when his hands slid around my body and his kiss deepened. Hot fire flared through me, though the sensation started to dissipate when Hugo lifted me and cradled me against his chest. I didn’t like being treated as if I were helpless – and Hugo damned well knew it.
Otis coughed in embarrassment and zipped ahead through the massive front door and into the castle where he could save his blushes. Hester stayed beside us watching Hugo’s every move. ‘Your technique could do with some improvement,’ she said to him. ‘And can’t this wait? Tell us what?—’
Duchess’s huge, clawed hand snapped out and enclosed Hester’s tiny form in her fist. Oh. I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t allowed to finish their sentences. Suddenly dread trickled down my spine.
Hugo’s mouth left mine, dipping in order to trail across my jawline. ‘Stay quiet,’ he muttered in my ear, his dark tone at odds with his affection.
I turned my head and tried to scan the dark line of trees beyond the castle without seeming too obvious. It was pointless: I couldn’t make out anything. I quickly gave up and leaned against Hugo’s chest instead.
Neither Miriam nor Slim spoke but I knew they were behind us from the crunch of their footsteps on the gravel. Hugo kissed me again, nodded at Duchess and carried me across the castle threshold as if I were some sort of ridiculous blushing bride.
My nose wrinkled. A very strange, very unpleasant smell clung to his clothes and hair. Whatever he’d been doing had been interesting – and probably not in a good way – but I held my tongue.
Slim, Miriam and Duchess entered the castle too, the latter with Hester still captured in her fist. When the troll paused to close the huge oak front door and bar it from the inside, my sense of foreboding grew. She was usually more comfortable outside and beneath her bridge, especially at this time of night. I’d never seen her lock that door and hamper her own exit before now.
Hugo didn’t put me down immediately so I wriggled to indicate my displeasure. ‘Pity,’ he murmured, finally allowing me to stand up. ‘I was enjoying that.’
Yeah, yeah. I rolled my eyes and suffered his answering grin, then drew in a breath to speak but he shook his head minutely in warning. I raised an eyebrow, stalked across to the nearest shiny suit of armour and lifted up the visor to peer mockingly inside. Nobody was lurking within. Surprise, surprise. I shrugged pointedly at Hugo but he only offered me an uncomfortable smile.
Then Duchess screamed. The sound was like nothing I’d ever heard before, high-pitched and so drawn out that it was a miracle the windows didn’t shatter. Within seconds, I’d unsheathed Gladys and adopted a defensive stance. Miriam had pulled out her sword too, and Hugo and Slim were bristling with magic ready to attack any and all comers.
‘You bitch!’ Duchess roared. ‘I’m going to eat you whole!’
‘Oh yeah? Come and get me then!’
I looked upwards. Hester was hanging onto the chandelier above our heads and glaring down at Duchess. The troll’s hand was open and a dribble of blood was leaking from a small wound in her fleshy palm.
‘She bit me!’ Duchess gave me a narrow-eyed look that suggested it was my fault. She thumped her chest and pointed at Hester. ‘Vengeance is mine by right!’
‘You grabbed me in your sweaty, smelly paw and wouldn’t let me go,’ Hester shouted. ‘What else was I supposed to do?’
Duchess snarled and leapt upwards, swiping at Hester. She succeeded in reaching the chandelier, knocked several crystal shards away and made it swing ominously. Hester, who had already darted away, stuck out her tongue.
Duchess jumped again. ‘I’m going to roast you alive, brownie!’
Otis zoomed out from the hallway. ‘What are you doing to my sister?’ he yelled. ‘If you hurt her, I will kill you!’
Another crystal shard tumbled from the chandelier and landed on my head. I scowled and threw as much authority into my voice as I could muster. ‘Enough! If I could get through dinner with Athair without bloodshed then you lot can stop this now!’
Duchess whirled. ‘Oh yeah? Who madeyouqueen?’
For fuck’s sake.
‘She’s gotten all uppity since she became a lady,’ Hester said. She put on an affected voice. ‘“Do this. Do that. Keep yourselves busy while I shag Hugo’s brains out.” It’s never-ending.’
My mouth dropped. How hadIended up as the bad guy here? Hugo snickered and I glared at him. ‘Don’t you start.’ I folded my arms. ‘What’s going on? What’s with all the secrecy?’
‘Bone Zone first,’ he said, referring to the large office at the back of the castle that was used for treasure-hunting business. ‘Then we’ll talk.’ He raised an eyebrow at Duchess. ‘Some calm would be appreciated.’
‘The grumpy goth started it,’ she retorted.
